Story perspectives

W.Va. Governor Declares Emergency as Record Floods Hit

7/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 West Virginia counties on July 21, 2026.
More than 7 inches of rain in Upshur County lifted Sand Run to a record 10.63 feet.
Morrisey sent 100 National Guard troops to three counties, performed 33 water rescues, ordered Buckhannon evacuations, and expects 200 troops by Wednesday.
Morrisey closed I-79 near Weston and US 33 and asked President Donald Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 Great Mississippi Flood, which killed 50 people and caused $12-16 billion in damage, led President Bill Clinton to declare a federal disaster and spurred stricter floodplain rules. West Virginia’s own flood legacy dates to the 1888 disaster that also claimed 50 lives. Those precedents shape West Virginia’s 2026 emergency actions.

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Story summary

Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 West Virginia counties on July 21, 2026.
More than 7 inches of rain in Upshur County lifted Sand Run to a record 10.63 feet.
Morrisey sent 100 National Guard troops to three counties, performed 33 water rescues, ordered Buckhannon evacuations, and expects 200 troops by Wednesday.
Morrisey closed I-79 near Weston and US 33 and asked President Donald Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration.

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